Topical emollient (urea, keratolytic)
Emollients, urea-containing
Brand names: Aquadrate, Balneum Plus, Calmurid, Eucerin
Adult dose
Dose: 5–10% urea creams: apply BD; higher concentrations (40%) used for callus/hyperkeratosis
Route: Topical
Frequency: BD (or per product)
Clinical pearls
- Useful for hyperkeratotic eczema, ichthyosis, xeroderma
- BAD: urea-containing emollients add humectant + mild keratolytic effect over plain paraffin
- MHRA fire-risk warning still applies if formulation contains paraffin
Contraindications
- Open wounds
- Infants <12 months (relative)
- Hypersensitivity
Side effects
- Stinging on application (especially fissured skin)
- Local irritation
- Erythema
Monitoring
- Skin condition response
- Tolerance
Reference: BNF; BAD; NICE CKS Eczema; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/emollients-urea-containing/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Suspicious Pigmented Lesion — Melanoma Pathway · NICE NG14 2015 / BAD
- Cellulitis and Erysipelas · NICE NG141 2019 / CREST
- Psoriasis — Severity Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG153 2019 / BAD
- Atopic Eczema — Assessment and Step-Up Therapy · NICE NG95 2023
- Urticaria and Angioedema · BSACI / EAACI Guidelines 2022
- Acne Vulgaris — Grading and Treatment · NICE NG198 2021 / BAD